Afghan women’s rights activist and taekwondo champion Marzieh Hamidi has been named the 2026 recipient of the Geneva Summit International Women’s Rights Award, organizers announced on Tuesday.
Hamidi, who lives in exile in France under around-the-clock police protection following death threats due to her activism, was training for the Olympics when she fled Afghanistan with her family in 2021 after the Taliban regained control of the country and reimposed sweeping gender restrictions.
In a statement released by summit organizers, Hamidi dedicated the award to Afghan women.
“Women are being erased from society: not seen and not heard, only veiled and hidden,” Hamidi said. “The world cannot turn a blind eye as Afghan women are removed from existence.”
Hamidi, who previously lived in Iran, said she would also use her acceptance speech to express solidarity with protesters in the country.
“I will be sending a strong message of solidarity with the courageous people of Iran and their just struggle for women’s rights, freedom and human dignity,” she said.
The award will be presented on Feb. 18 at the annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy, which is attended by United Nations ambassadors, human rights activists and dissidents. The gathering is set to feature testimony from victims of abuses and their families from countries including Iran, Russia, China and North Korea.
Hillel Neuer, executive director of U.N. Watch, which organizes the summit, said honoring Hamidi draws attention to the plight of Afghan women under Taliban rule.
“By recognizing Marzieh, we are shining a spotlight on the millions of Afghan women who are being silenced and subjugated,” Neuer said. “She refuses to give in, and today we stand with Marzieh Hamidi to ensure the Taliban hears her roar.”
Iranian activist Masih Alinejad, who lives in the United States and has been the target of multiple alleged Iranian assassination plots, is also scheduled to speak at the summit.
